Safety Performance of Major Tourist Routes - Pilot Study

Abstract:

This pilot study aimed to examine road traffic crashes along a major Victorian tourist
route, addressing the likely growth in crashes, potential countermeasures, including
proven road-based measures applied at high crash locations, and road user and vehicle
issues. Because of its strong national and international promotion, and anticipated high
growth in tourism in coming years, the Great Ocean Road was chosen for investigation.

The road safety problem along the Great Ocean Road was defined through analysis of
reported casualty crash data, and discussions with local Police, and representatives of
VicRoads and Community Road Safety Councils. Route inspections were also conducted. An
average of some 60 casualty crashes were reported for the Great Ocean Road each year,
during the period 1985-1994. While the overall crash problem appears not to be growing,
motorcyclist crashes are both substantial in number and increasing. Crashes tended to be
of above-average severity, with running off the road on curves being the single, most
frequent crash type, followed by collisions between vehicles from opposite directions.
Most crashes occurred in 100 km/h speed zones, with summer months and weekends, especially
Sundays, being the most common crash times. A large majority of crash-involved drivers and
riders resided in Victoria, while less than 5% reported overseas addresses.

Serious safety concerns are closely related to the unique geographic and topographical
features, and physical restrictions of the Great Ocean Road. Given these conditions and
the roads tourist function, extra attention should be paid to road quality to
compensate for inherent hazards. Many sections have experienced high casualty crash
concentrations and are amenable to enhanced safety from properly targeted road
improvements, supported by enforcement and behavioural change initiatives addressing
excessive driver and rider speeds, risk-taking, and lane tracking errors/compliance. Scope
also exists for improving pedestrian safety in townships.

The pilot study recommends a strategic approach for the Great Ocean Road and for
tourist routes in general. The strategy includes reducing speed limits, in recognition of
the tourist function of the route and its inherent dangers, supporting enforcement and
publicity, and programs of low-cost road improvements at locations with high crash
concentrations, safety-oriented education and marketing strategies, and police enforcement
directed at unsafe behaviours at high risk times. The strategys potential should be
further strengthened through effective partnerships between tourism, Police and other
state agencies, municipalities and local communities.

The potential benefits of such a strategy are likely to be comparable with those of
high-performing "black spot" programs which reduce casualty crash frequencies
and costs, and deliver benefit-to-cost ratios typically ranging from 4:1 up to 8:1. Many
of the proposed road-based countermeasures can achieve crash savings of 10 to 60%.

Executive Summary

This pilot study aimed to examine road traffic crashes along a major Victorian tourist
route, addressing the likely growth in crashes, potential crash countermeasures, including
proven road-based measures applied at high crash locations, and road user and vehicle
issues. The project has indicated the level of benefits expected from the recommended
countermeasures.

After assessment and discussions with officers of Tourism Victoria, the Great Ocean
Road was chosen for pilot investigation. It is being strongly promoted nationally and
internationally, and is expected to experience the highest growth in Victorias
tourism market in coming years. The road safety problem was defined through analysis and
assessment of reported casualty crash data for the ten-year period 1985-1994, discussions
with local Police and VicRoads officers, and with members of the Barwon Region and
Warrnambool Community Road Safety Councils. Route inspections were conducted by MUARC
staff.

An average of some 60 reported casualty crashes have occurred along the Great Ocean
Road each year. While the overall crash problem appears not to be growing, motorcyclist
crashes are increasing. Crashes tended to be of above-average severity, with running off
the road on curves being the single, most frequent crash type, followed by collisions
between vehicles from opposite directions. Most crashes occurred in 100 km/h speed zones,
with summer months and weekends, especially Sundays, being the most common days for crash
occurrence.

The vast majority of crashes-involved drivers and riders were Victorian residents,
while less than 5% reported overseas addresses. Male drivers were more often involved in
casualty crashes than were female drivers. In particular, male drivers and riders in the
range 18 to 25 years were highly represented. Crashes involving motorcyclists
(overwhelmingly males, and most frequently aged between 18 and 35 years) represented about
a third of all casualty crashes. Off-path on curves, on straight sections and collisions
with vehicles from the opposite direction were the three major crash types for
motorcyclists.

Serious safety concerns are closely related to unique geographic and topographical
features, and physical restrictions of the Great Ocean Road. Frequent changes in
horizontal and vertical alignment, narrow lanes and a hazardous roadside, together with
the tendency for road users to be unfamiliar with the route, exacerbate crash risks. The
very factors which elevate crash risk are an intrinsic part of the roads attraction
for tourists. Eliminating these factors may prove impracticable in some cases, too costly
in others, or cost-effective in yet others.

Given the roads tourist function and physical nature, extra attention should be
paid to road quality (i.e. design, operation and maintenance) to compensate for inherent
hazards. Many sections have experienced high casualty crash concentrations and are
amenable to enhanced safety from properly targeted road improvements, supported by
enforcement and behavioural change initiatives. Scope also exists for improving pedestrian
safety in townships.

In the absence of cost-effective road improvements, increased safety may result from
targeting undesirable forms of road user behaviour in these high risk environments. The
main behaviours include excessive vehicle speeds and/or risk-taking (especially by
motorcyclists), lane tracking errors, and disregard for double centre lines.

It is important that a strategic approach be adopted to assist in maximising
countermeasure effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. This pilot study suggests a strategic
approach for the Great Ocean Road and for tourist routes in general. Desirably, the
strategy should target a sizeable portion of the crash problem, be based on proven
approaches to reducing crashes, use cost-effective measures, and be practical and readily
achievable. Having regard to these criteria, the suggested approach to enhancing route
safety is:

Reduce the speed limit along relevant sections of the Great Ocean Road
from 100 km/h to either 70 or 80 km/h, in recognition of the routes predominant
tourist function, its inherently hazardous alignment, topography and roadside features,
and the lack of familiarity many drivers and riders have with the route. Reducing the
speed limit is inexpensive and can affect safety over long distances. If supported with
appropriate enforcement and publicity, this measure would address the main crash types,
the hazardous roadside, lane tracking errors and conflicts with unexpected manoeuvres by
tourists. Realistic speed limits should improve the effectiveness of Police enforcement.

Implement a program of low-cost road improvements, at locations with
high concentrations of target crash types. Measures might include limited road widening,
tactile edge and double centre lining, shoulder sealing, elimination of potholes, loose
material and surface irregularities, skid resistant pavements, improved superelevation on
curves, clearing or shielding of roadside hazards, sealing of intersection and driveway
approaches to the Great Ocean Road, channelisation of high-crash intersections, reduction
in excess road widths in townships, upgrading and signing of alternative routes connecting
with the Great Ocean Road and extra turn-out facilities.

Implement targeted safety-oriented education and marketing strategies for tourist activities along the Great Ocean Road, drawing upon the collective expertise
and roles of tourism agencies, related enterprises and community groups.

A generic, tourist route safety strategy should be based not only on the above
principles, but should be flexible enough to address both the generic and route-specific
crash characteristics, using relevant vehicle, behavioural, and road-based
countermeasures, which might include:

of police enforcement, directed at unsafe behaviours at high risk times;

established upon effective partnerships between tourism and state agencies, local
government, Police and local communities.

Being a pilot study, potential benefits of countermeasures could not be
thoroughly examined. However, implementing low-cost, targeted road-based improvements is
consistent with the highly successful "black spot" principles which reduce
casualty crash frequencies and costs, and deliver benefit-to-cost ratios typically ranging
from 4:1 up to 8:1. Furthermore, many of the proposed road-based countermeasures can
achieve crash savings of 10 to 60%.

Sponsoring Organisation: Baseline Research Program - Department of
Justice, Transport Accident Commission, Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) Ltd,
VicRoads